Chandigarh: CBI nabs two defence accounts officers for corruption

A senior auditor and an assistant accounts officer (AAO) of the Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (PCDA), Western Command were caught red-handed by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) sleuths while accepting bribe of Rs 20,000 on Tuesday evening.

The senior auditor has been identified as Vitesh Kumar and the AAO as Kashmiri Lal.

CBI said that Kumar was arrested red-handed in the Sector 9 market whereas Lal was arrested from his office. They had in collusion demanded a bribe of Rs 20,000 from Jagdeep Dogra, the complainant in the case, for issuing an annual settlement certificate, CBI added.

Sources added that Dogra, a resident of Chandigarh, had stated to the CBI that his brother-in-law Ajay Sharma, who runs a firm in Pathankot, had called him to meet Kumar and Lal on his behalf to get the certificate. Sharma’s firm supplies in stationery and small electrical items to the Indian Army.

Tarun Guaba, SP CBI, said that acting on the complaint a trap was laid, which led to Kumar's arrest.

A case has been registered under section 7 of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and section 120-B of the IPC. Meanwhile, raids are being conducted at the residences of both the accused, who will be produced before court on Wednesday.